Overview of the Exam and Syllabus Paper 01 consists of 60 multiple-choice items drawn from all areas of the syllabus. The time given to do this paper is one and a half hours. It is marked out of 60 and is 30 per cent of the final mark. Paper 02 is often referred to as the essay paper and is 2 1 / 2 hours long. It is marked out of 100 and is equivalent to 50 per cent of the final mark. I will focus a while on Paper 02. Take some time to look at a past test paper for Paper 02. I trust you can access one. On the very first page, or the cover if you wish, there are specific instructions for you, the candidate. The heading is clear and precise - READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY Many students often fail to follow the instructions given on the front of the exam script. This has caused many students to be unsuccessful in this subject Let me highlight the first three instructions of the question paper and use them as a guide to give an overview of Paper 02. These are: 1. This paper consists of ten questions in FOUR sections. 2. Section A consists of one compulsory question. Each of sections B, C and D consists of three questions. 3. Candidates must answer four questions: Question 1 from Section A and one question from each of Sections B, C and D. You would have noticed that the syllabus has four main sections as follows: 1. Section I - Map reading and field study (compulsory questions) locate places, using four and six-figure grid references; use scale to measure distance; give direction in terms of compass bearing and the 16 points of the compass; read and interpret conventional symbols on a map; reduce and enlarge a section of the map; draw and interpret cross sections and sketch sections; calculate gradients using ratios; describe the following: drainage, vegetation, land use, settlement, communications; describe landforms through the reading of contours; explain the relationship among the patterns of: relief; drainage; vegetation; land use; settlement; communication.
locate a place from its latitude and longitude; find the latitude and longitude of a given place; calculate the time of places; draw diagrams to illustrate geographical features, locate territories in the Caribbean; 2. Section II - Natural systems In this section you can study either: i and ii or iii, iv and v or vi) (There is no need to study all of section II (Natural system) because Section B of the exam will be made up of one question from each of these three sections) i. Internal Forces Theory plate tectonics. Types of plate boundaries. Global distribution of plate boundaries. Caribbean and adjacent plate boundaries. Formation and distribution vi earthquakes, volcanoes and fold mountains. Intrusive volcanic features, ( sills, dykes, batholiths,) and extrusive volcanic features (cones and plateaux,). changes in intrusive and extrusive volcanic features over rime. ii. External Forces Definitions of denudation, weathering, mass wasting and erosion. Weathering types (physical, chemical, biotic). Processes of weathering. (carbonation, oxidation, solution, frost-action, pressure release, temperature changes, biotic). Mass wasting (lands/ides and soil creep). Conditions influencing landslides and soil creep. iii. Rivers The water cycle. How water flows on reaching the surface.
Pathways water takes on reaching the surface. River processes: erosion, transportation, deposition. River valleys Land-forms - rapids, waterfalls, gorges, ox-bow lakes, flood plain, levees, meander and braiding (bars), river cliffs, point bar, deltas. Drainage patterns. iv. Limestone Environment Characteristics of limestone (chemical composition, structure, permeability). Processes occurring in limestone areas and landforms created both on the surface and underground, swallow holes, caves, stalactites, stalagmites, pillar). Karst landforms in the Caribbean (conical hills and cockpits). v. Coasts Wave types (constructive, destructive). Wave processes and resulting landforms ( cliff notch, wave-cut platform, headland and bay, caves, arches, stacks, beaches, spit, tombolo, bars). Types of coral reefs in the Caribbean ( fringing, barrier). Location, distribution of coral reels in the Caribbean. Conditions necessary for the successful formation of coral reef vi. Weather, Climate, Vegetation and Soil Differences between weather and climate. Caribbean weather systems (hurricanes, tropical waves, cold fronts, anticyclones, (ITCZ). Influence of relief on climate in the Caribbean. The components of an ecosystem-human, climate, vegetation, soil (living and non-living components). Location of equatorial, tropical marine and tropical continental regions. Climates, vegetation and soil of the equatorial, tropical marine and tropical continental regions. The relationship, between the climate, vegetation and soils of equatorial, tropical marine and tropical continental regions.
3. Section III - Human systems In this section you can study either: i or ii There is no need to study all of Section III (Human system) i. Population and Settlement Factors influencing population distribution and population density in a named Caribbean country. Factors affecting pop ulation growth in ONE Caribbean country and in ONE developed country. Definition of urbanization. Reasons for urbanization in the Caribbean. Population growth of ONE Caribbean capital city within the last 20 years; Benefits and problems of urbanization in capital city in Objective 5; Ways of controlling urbanization in the Caribbean; Patterns and consequences of international migration in one named Caribbean country within the last 20 years. ii. Economic Activity Characteristics and relative importance of primary, secondary and tertiary economic activities to the Caribbean. Location of one example of each of the following economic activities: (1) one example of Primary- fishing or forestry or mining (bauxite or gold or oil and natural gas); (2) one example of Secondary - garment industry or food processing; (3) one example of Tertiary - tourism. Factors influencing the location of economic activity chosen in 10: physical, human, economic. Trends in each economic activity chosen in 10. Challenges in each economic activity chosen in 10 - globalization, technology, marketing [for example, Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), European Union (EU)] and sustainability. For the secondary industry chosen in 10, compare a named Caribbean country with a newly industralised island either Hong Kong or Singapore. Importance of agriculture to the Caribbean region. Changing role of agriculture, for example, trends in employment, contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the Caribbean, acreage, diversification, marketing arrangements. Location of commercial arable and peasant farming in ONE Caribbean territory. Characteristics of commercial arable and peasant farming in a country selected in Characteristics of commercial arable farming in Caribbean and Prairie Provinces of Canada. Trends in commercial arable farming in the Caribbean and the Prairie Provinces of Canada.
4. Section IV - Human-environment systems (Read all you can on this section. You will have THREE questions to choose One from) Natural Hazards Definition of a natural hazard. Impact of one of the following on life and property: volcanic eruption or earthquake or hurricane. Responses to one hazard/n a Caribbean country. Individual responses (preparedness, community involvement). National responses (national disaster organization activities [for example, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, (ODPEM), role of national organizations. Regional responses [for example, activities of Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Relief Agency (CDERA)J. Environmental Degradation a) Pollution Definition of pollution. Types of pollution (air, water, land). Location of area in a named Caribbean country where pollution is a major problem. b) Global Warming Definition of global warming. Long-term changes in global temperatures. Causes of global warming. Consequences of global warming (for example, climate change and sea level rise in one named Caribbean country and either Mauritius or Maldives). Measures to reduce the impact (for example, forest conservation, use of renewable energy resources, changes to vehicle emissions) in a developed country. c) Coral Reef Destruction Causes of coral reef destruction (for example, sedimentation, sewage pollution, tourism). Consequences of coral reef destruction (for example, coastal erosion, decline in fish stock). Measures to reduce the impact in one Caribbean territory. d) Deforestation Causes of deforestation (for example, squatting, lumbering, agriculture, mining). Consequences of deforestation (for example, loss of flora and fauna, soil erosion, flooding, decline in underground water). Measures to reduce the impact of deforestation in one named Caribbean territory. Paper 02 comprises four sections to correspond with the four sections of the syllabus.
Section A - Map reading Section B - Natural systems Section C - Human systems Section D - Human-environment systems The instructions on the first page of the test booklet, then, are simply repeating what is in the syllabus. DO NOT attempt to answer more than the required number of questions, that is, FOUR. The end result is a failure in the subject. Be assured that you need 30 minutes to write a good answer to any of the questions given in section B, C and D. The compulsory question 1 that makes up Section A needs approximately 45 minutes to be answered thoroughly and properly. You will not get additional credit in attempting more than the four questions. Students please understand this. Once you have selected the question you are best prepared for from each of the sections, take a few minutes to read the question through carefully. Make some jottings of the points that should be included in the response to the margins of the question paper. Begin to write after this. As you write your response to the question, bear in mind points 4 and 5 of the list of instructions already referred to. These are:- Begin each answer on a new page. Credit will be given for the use of relevant sketch maps and diagrams. In the external examinations, you are given an answer booklet in which to write your responses. I am appealling to you to do as instructed and use a new page each time you are answering another question. You would have noticed that the questions are in sections and sub-sections, namely, (b) - (i); (ii); (iii). You are NOT being asked to write each section or sub-section on a new page - NO! NO! NO! Notice the use of the word 'relevant' in the instructions given above in reference to sketch maps and diagrams. Sometimes, sketch maps and diagrams are specifically asked for in the question. In questions where you are not asked for them, you may find that they can assist you in responding to the question better. The important factor here is that it must be relevant to the question. Wherever and whenever you do sketch maps and diagrams, ensure that they are properly drawn, neatly done, well-annotated, have a title and, where necessary, have a key.
Let me now share with you on the structure of each question. Each question has three profiles: (i) Profile 1 - Practical Skills (PS) (ii) Profile 2 - Knowledge and Comprehension (KC) (iii) Profile 3 - Use of Knowledge (UK) Profile 1 - Practical Skills The ability to: (i) Use scale for measurements (ii) Read maps (iii) Draw maps, diagrams and sketches (iv) Construct graphs using simple statistical data Profile 2 - Knowledge and Comprehension The ability to: (i) Define terms and recall facts on a range of geographical phenomena (ii) Describe the processes impacting on the development of the natural, economic, social and political environments Profile 3 - Use of Knowledge The ability to: (i) Apply knowledge and skills (ii) Explain geographical processes (iii) Interpret and draw inferences from geographical data